Onal lithographing



W. RICE. HOLDBAGK.

No. 520,612. Patented May 29, 1894.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM RICE, OF ROM\E, PENNSYLVANIA.

'HOLDBASCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 520,612, dated May 29, 1894.

Application filed December 8, 1893- seTia'1N-0I493l931' No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM RICE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rome, in the county of Bradford and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Holdback, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of hold-backs which are located upon the thills of a vehicle and designed to engage with the hold-back straps of a harness and which employ springs for retaining the straps in connection with the hold-backs, so that they cannot become accidentally displaced.

The objects of my invention are to improve upon the springs and hold-back usually employed and to so form the same as to permit of the egress of the strap with facility as well as its ingress to and from the hold-back, which is practically concealed from view; is strong and durable; and is in a convenient position for engagement.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the draWings:Figure 1 is an inner perspective view of a thill, the same having a hold-back constructed in accordance with my invention applied thereto and in engagement with a hold-back-strap. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the extreme end of the hold-backand the spring illustrating the manner of securing the spring to the thill. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the hold-back. Fig. 4 is a detail in perspective of the hold-back. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the spring.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the practice of my invention I employ opposite hold-backs, one for each thill or shaft, and inasmuch as said hold-backs are similar, a description of one will suffice for that of the other.

The hold-back is formed integrally and of metal, as is usual, and consists in the present instance of a fiat securing-plate 1, which is perforated near its opposite ends and countersunk to receive securing screws 2. This metal plate is applied to the under side of a,

perforations upwardly into the thill. The rear end of the plate 1 is reduced beyond the inner perforation, is outwardly deflected, as

at 4, until it reaches nearly the outer side of the thill, and is then transversely and inwardly deflected to form the hold-back hook 5. This hook extends beyond the inner side of the thill, and is forwardly and upwardly inclined to a point opposite said inner side of the thill, forming the terminal 6, the inner side of which is flat and the exterior of which is rounded so as to offer no sharp projections for marring the harness or injuring the horse. A curved spring 7 is interposed between the inner flat side of the terminal and the inner side of the thill, the said spring having its opposite ends perforated at 8, the forward portion being elongated as shown. Screws 9 pass through the perforation into the inner face of the thill, the slotted end of the spring being designed to move upon the screw at that end when the spring is compressed. The curvature of the spring is sufficient to cause it between its ends to press inward against the Hat face of the terminal 6 of the hook and therefore close the passage that exists between the said terminals and the inner side of the thill, the closing, however, is yielding, inasmuch as the spring will give to any press ure thereagainst, as when caused by an attempt to insert or withdraw the hold-back strap 10.

The manner of inserting. the hold-back- .strap is similar to that employed in the devices of this nature now in use, in that it simply consists in compressing the spring 7 away from the terminal 6 or toward the thill and introducing the loop of said strap through the passage or throat produced between the terminal 6 and the thill. To withdraw the strap the same operation is gone through with, with the exception that the strap is passed out of the hook instead of into it. When in position a secure fastening is produced, the spring closing the passage-way and preventing any accidental detachment of the parts, and I thus avoid the necessity, as in other devices of this class, of wrapping the breeching or hold-back straps around the thills and buckling the same. Of course, af-

ter the hold-back straps have been once adjusted and made a proper length they need ICO not be again unbuckled, but the loops produced at the ends thereof can be readily inserted at will when in the act of harnessing the animal.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawings it will be seen that I have produced a very simple, economical, and readily attached device for h0ld-back purposes, wherein though secure when in use the hold back may be readily connected or disconnected as desired. Furthermore, by reason of the peculiar disposition given to the hook the utmost safety is secured and yet the parts are hidden from View and cannot be observed from the outside.

, Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination with a thill, and a fiat bowed spring applied to the inner side face thereof and arranged longitudinally thereon andhaving perforated ends,one of the perforations being elongated, and fastening devices passed through the perforations into the inner side of the thill and securing both ends of the springs thereto, of the integral holdback hook consisting of the perforated securing-plate 1 applied to the under side of the thill below the spring and at its rear end reduced and outwardly deflected as at 4, then trans- 3o versely deflected to form the hook 5, and finally terminating in the terminal 6 extending inwardly beyond the inner face of the thill and inclined upwardly to a point opposite and in contact with the curved spring, and the fastening devices passed through the perforations in the plate and upwardly into the under side of the thill, substantially as specified.

2. In a hold-back, the combination with the spring 7 applied longitudinally to the inner side ofthe thill, having both its ends secured thereto, one end having a limited longitudinal movement, and its main portion between the ends bowed outwardly, of the integral hook separate from the spring and having its plate or shank secured to the under side of, the thill below the plane of the spring, then bent continuously downward, inward and upward so that its point is in close contact with the central portion of the spring, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

- WILLIAM RICE.

Witnesses:

O. F. HERSHY, T. R. IVIAOAFEE. 

